Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard James Woods was stabbed to death by an inmate at the Missouri State Penitentiary.
The inmate was shot and killed by other corrections officers following the stabbing.
Guard Woods had served with the Missouri State Penitentiary for two months and was the former police chief of Macon, Missouri.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-D6AD21B9- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Prison Guard Woods served with the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Prison Guard Woods.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Prison Guard James W. Woods is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Missouri Department of Corrections, 9 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James W. Woods's cause is highlighted.
How James W. Woods Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. Woods is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James W. Woods was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Missouri Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
